Demand for the services of the Upshur County Shares Food Pantry continues to be high, according to figures released by Dr. Don Warden, who works with the program.

“In December, we were able to help 559 families with food,” he said. Dr. Warden said the number was down a little from November due to the weather, and due to being closed on Monday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve.

“We were open the day after Christmas (Wednesday, Dec. 26), but because of the snow (late on Christas Day), no one came in,” he said.

Still, the families represented 1,423 people who received help.

“All the food drives that brought in food in November and December really helped us in the Christmas season,” said Mel Small, one of the coordinators of the pantry.

He said they were able to give several families toys left over from the First Baptist Church Christmas Store for their children.

The Food Pantry also gave out its allotment of 131 commodity boxes for the month.

Small said that the pantry gave out 313,760 pounds of food during 2012.

“We helped a total of 6,301 families with food, which fed a total of 16,912 people, praise be to the Lord,” Dr. Warden said. “We thank everyone for their prayers and support in 2012, which made all of this possible.”